How To Apply Eyeliner
Last Updated: 21/11/2024
Whether you’re looking to achieve a classic smokey eye, a winged out cat eye, or a simple line to make your eyelashes look fuller, good quality is eyeliner is all you need. We’ve previously outlined the best gel, pencil and liquid eyeliners and here we’ll be sharing our expert tips and tricks on how to apply eyeliner perfectly every time.
Easy Tips On How To Apply Eyeliner
Eyeliner can really transform any makeup look and makes all eye colours stand out and pop. You can experiment with different shades of eyeliner, as well as different formulations. When it comes to eyeliner application, it really does come down to that age-old saying, practice makes perfect. When you take the time to perfect your technique, it makes a precise eyeliner application much easier to achieve.
Which Eyeliner Should Beginners Use
If you’re new to eyeliner application then we recommend starting out with a pencil eyeliner as the softer formula is much easier to control and correct mistakes. Sure, it doesn’t achieve a line quite as precise as a liquid eyeliner or gel eyeliner, however, it is great for smudging and smoking out for a classic smokey eye look.
Here are some of our favourites:
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How To Make Eyeliner Stay On All Day
Everything from the weather, to crying, can cause eyeliner to smudge, that is why we recommend using a waterproof eyeliner to help seal in your liner for a long-lasting finish no matter what the day throws at you.
Here are some of our favourites:
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RRP: £22.50Current price: £18.00
Which Eyeliner Is Best For A Smokey Eye
We recommend using a kohl pencil eyeliner to achieve a smokey eye as the eyeliner is typically much softer and easy to blend. Apply your favourite pencil eyeliner as close as you can to the upper lashline before smudging out with a pencil brush or a dense eyeshadow brush. Smudge the eyeliner outwards towards to outer corner of your eye for a more defined cat-eye shape.
Here are some of our favourites:
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Pencil eyeliner is also ideal for applying within the waterline and tightline which are the inner rims around your eyes, this is called tight lining and is a great way to dial up the drama. Be sure to maintain a sharp tip on your pencil eyeliner to avoid a messy application and snagging the delicate skin around your eyes.
How To Achieve A Smoky Eye Look
We've paired up with Illamasqua to show you how to ramp your usual smoky eye for a more dramatic eye makeup look.
Which Eyeliner Is Best For Winged liner
Liquid eyeliner is best suited to a winged liner look as the nib is typically much pointier and precise and the liner liquid is more opaque. To apply liquid eyeliner, firstly shake the pot to ensure the liner is well mixed. To achieve a winged liner look, there are two ways you can do this.
- Look directly into the mirror and add a dot on the outer corner of your eye where you’d like your wing to reach. Once you’re happy with the position of your dot, start to join the dot to your upper lash line and fill in as necessary.
- If you prefer to achieve a simple line, you may find it easier to start in the middle of your eyelid and slowly pull the liquid liner outwards to wing it out.
Here are some of our favourites:
I've been writing about hair and beauty for over 10 years. I am a collector of vintage perfume and my go-to look always includes a bold pink lip! For more, visit https://www.goodgollymisshollie.co.uk
